The PHLAME (Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Alternative Models' Effects) firefighter study: outcomes of two models of behavior change.

Objective: PHLAME's (Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Alternative Models' Effects) objective was to assess and compare two means to promote healthy lifestyles.

Methods: Prospective trial among 599 firefighters randomized by station to 1) team-centered curriculum, 2) one-on-one motivational interviewing (MI), and 3) controls. Assessment included dietary behavior, physical activity, weight, and general well-being at baseline and 12 months.

Motivational interviewing in community-based research: experiences from the field.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) has been established as an effective psychotherapeutic treatment for problem drinking in clinical settings. Consequently, there is a growing interest in applying MI to facilitate change across other health behaviors, such as tobacco use, eating habits, and physical activity in a variety of community-based research settings. These extended applications pose new challenges regarding implementation and evaluation.

The PHLAME firefighters' study: feasibility and findings.

Objective: To assess efficacy of 2 worksite health promotion interventions.

Methods: Randomly assign 3 fire stations to (a) team-based curriculum, (b) individual counselor meetings, and (c) control.

Results: Both interventions were feasible and acceptable, and they resulted in significant reductions in LDL cholesterol.

Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Alternative Models' Effects (PHLAME).

The Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Alternative Models' Effects (PHLAME) study evaluates the efficacy of two intervention strategies for improving nutrition and physical activity practices in fire fighters: a team-centered program and a one-on-one format targeting the individual. PHLAME compares these two behavior change models (the team-based versus the one-on-one approaches) against a usual-care control group. As a group, fire fighters have a concentration of the same harmful behaviors and health risks commonly afflicting the US population.